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G. H.- KAMMAN.

SHAFT SUPPORT.

Patented Nov. 13; 1888.

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-- UNIT D STATES PATENT Orrrca.

GEORGE H. KAMMAN, OF OHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MICHAEL BONGART, OF SAME PLACE.

SHAFT-SUPPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,923, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed July 7. 1888. Serial No. 279,304. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. KAMMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Ohalmpaign, in the county of Champaign, in the State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Means for Holding up the Shafts of Road-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in means or devices for temporarily holding up the shafts of buggies and carriages, while the animal is being brought into position to be attached to the vehicle.

My invention consists in a spring fixed to the front axle or to the clips of the front axle of a carriage or buggy, which spring is adapted to engage with and hold aspring-tongne fixed on the rear end of the shaft, as will be hereinafter fully described, and specially as the same is pointed out in the claim made hereto.

The object is to provide simple and effective means for holding the shafts of a road-vehicle in an elevated position while the vehicle is standing in the carriagehouse or during the time that the animal is being broughtinto position for attachment to the vehicle.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective of the device attached to the axle of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the parts united. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts separated.

Reference being had to the drawings, A designates the front axle of the vehicle, to which is fitted and secured the usual shaft-clips, 5, having threaded ends with nuts, as shown, and formed with the usual thill-ears, (i, to couple with the thill-iron 7. These several elements or parts may be of any improved construction, as my invention is designed to be put into operative association with any of the devices for coupling the shafts to the axle.

B designates a keeper, consisting of a substantial metal plate having a horizontal part, as 8, having perforations9 to take the ends of the clip and be held in place by the nuts on the ends of the clip-arms, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The metal plate B at the rear of the clip is struck up and carried vertically,

being arranged to stand free from the clip, so as to have a limited spring function, and has its outer upper face end formed with an incline, 10, and a seat, 11, directly below the incline, to engage and hold the free end of the 5 circular holding-spring on the shaft, substantially as shown. This plate B, it will be seen, may form the keeper of the clip, as shown; but in case it is desired to attach it to a vehicle having a clip with a keeper the keeper may 6c be dispensed with, or the plate may be arranged above the keeper and be held by the nuts pressing on the keeper.

0 designates the shaft pivotally coupled to the clip-ears by any of the usual devices. 6 5

g G designates my improved spring for holding the shafts in an elevated position. This consists of a substantial steel bar or red bent to form more than a semicircle,and having on one of its reversed ends a knuckle, 13, to engage under the catch 11 of the keeper B, and the other reversed end is adjustably fixed to the shaft by means of a clip, 12, on the rear end of the shaft, and may be adjustedby loosening the clip and moving the spring to give arm may be made with convenience and reliability I mark graduations on the end of the part B. By raising the shafts and adjusting the circular spring'arm to rest with its free end on the selected graduations from 1 to 4 the strength of the union of parts will be cor- 0 respondingly lessened or increased.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that by forming the holding-spring in the circular shape I give to this element a spring function which may be made stiffer or weakened by adjustment of the clampedend under the clip on the shaft, and thus cause the free end to engage the latch or seat with greater or less force.

The parts B and 80 Besides, the holding-spring being too circular the free end will be forced into the seat in the latch at any adjustment which brings it on the incline.

The operation is as follows: By raising up the shaft the free end of the circular springarm 0' is carried down the incline of the part B, and the movement continued until the knuckles of the respective parts set together, when the shafts may be released by the hand. When it is desired to bring the shaft down, the disconnection of the parts B and 0 may be effected by simply exerting enough force to do so.

What I claim is- The shaft-holder herein described, consisting of the metal plate B, secured to the clip of the front axle, and formed with a struck-up part having an inclined end face, 10, and a catch-seat, 11, formed therein, and the shaftholding spring 0, consisting of a metal bar bent to form more than a semicircle, and formed 20 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 25 hand in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

GEORGE H. KAMMAN.

Attest:

H. J. STIOKROI), A. HAMPTON. 

